Then & now

While browsing through the visitor center recently I came upon an old chart of the area made around the turn of the last century [below].  It was a treat to see the areas marked out for the Commercial Pacific Cable Co Station [top of island] and Pan American Airways Station [right side of island].
What is most striking though is to look at the current satellite photos and appreciate that the entire SE [bottom right] corner of the island didn't exist in the 1930's.  It wasn't until the military needed more island that the area was filled in with sand and coral that was dredged up from the newly created shipping channels.

Of course the huge engineering project completed 80 years ago will likely be washed away in another 80 years if the expected sea level rise comes to fruition.  The average height of the island is only a few feet above sea level and many suspect the island will soon be underwater.

Battle of Midway

Last week was the 72nd anniversary of the Battle of Midway.  In honor of the thousands of fallen heroes, I spent last Sunday cleaning the grave sites at the Doctors Cemetery.

 

A brillo pad and some nevr-dull

After extensive 'elbow grease' and polish

Extensive corrosion, before cleaning

Working vacation

FWS personnel making a technical water entrance

Last weekend I was asked to help FWS collect some coral samples ahead of planned work on the decaying seawall.  We got to swim around as the surf sloshed against the seawall and 'harvest' some coral heads.  They were then glued onto bricks and placed out at hotel reef until the project is completed.
















After spending several hours in the water, we were all a bit chilled.  Fortunately one of the long-timers told me about the 'secret' outdoor shower with piping hot water.  It was delightful.

Daily trash service

Thanks to the Great pacific garbage patch, Midway gets a huge daily dose of plastic, fishing nets and line on the beach.

I've taken to picking up trash while walking the beaches.  It provides a nice opportunity to slow down and look around.  Fortunately I always carry around a section of line that I can use to make a 'trash train'.

















A few weeks ago we had huge ball of plastic detritus wash up on the beach.  I actually got to watch it surge across the shallows before docking on the beach.  Several of us tried to pull it up, but quickly found that the combined weight was well over several tons.  They ended up using a telescoping forklift to take it to the 'trash pile'. The FWS folks here say the ginormous commercial fishing boats will lash together all their scrap nets and rope and set them adrift in an attempt to bait in fish.  Sometimes the trash balls are even found with GPS locator beacons on them.

Nature vs blacktop

On the way back from a beach debris rescue mission [2,000 lbs ball of rope] I was struck by the asymmetric distribution of Albatross on each side of the bike path out by the airfield.  One of the old time volunteers said it was because the adults return and lay eggs where they were born.
Up until a few years ago, everything on the right side of the picture was blacktop and historically no birds have been raised there.
As with much of the development on the island, nature is quickly taking back the landscape one concrete crack and split at a time.

Memorial Day celebration

Last Monday we celebrated Memorial Day out here on Midway Atoll with a nice ceremony at the Navy Memorial.  The current Refuge Manager is also a Coast Guard Reserve Commander, so he and I dressed up in our military duds for the occasion.

Later this week is a ceremony to recognize the Battle of Midway [June 4-7, 1942]  The largest naval battle in history and the turning point for the Japanese in WWII.

True cost of 'progress'

Sea turtle entangled in milk crate on cargo beach